We're Boarding Lucky

[luckydog]

Well, its that time when my family decides to go on a vacation. We're having to board Lucky and the pups. I know that the pups will be fine, but Lucky is the dog that I rescued a year and a half ago and she is very attached and clingy to me. She has never been in a kennel before and I've only left her once before, but my father stayed with her. This time, she will be in new surrondings and she will not know anyone taking care of her. She's going to be staying at Blue Line Kennels www.bluelinekennel.com and I was just wondering if there is anything I could do to make her stay more comfortable. I know she is going to have a difficult time and I just want to make her happy while I'm gone.

[Novel]

I'm just going to answer the question about the boarding. I'm not even going to ask why you are boarding a dam with her puppies, or why you resued her and she is having puppies. I'm just going to stay on one topic.

As a previous boarding kennel manager there are many things that you can do to help her our during what could be a stressful time.
I encouraged people to bring personal belongings, safe toys, blankets, chew toys, and maybe a shirt that smells like their people. This can be placed in the kennel and can help to calm the dog.
Make sure you take enough food for the entire stay. Switching foods is a stressful thing that can lead to dehydration.
Leave emergency numbers for the kennel. Phone number where you'll be staying, a cell phone number if you'll have one with you, your regular vet's number and numbers of anyone you trust that will be in the area of the kennel to make emergency decisions if you can't be reached.
Another nice thing to have is a schedule of events that your dog is used to. What time she usually goes out in the AM, when she eats, sleeping habits, etc. Some other personal information is nice also, such as favorite games, nicknames, tricks and commands she knows.
This should all make it easier on her.

[fredsmybaby]

i used to work in a kennel so i think i might be able to give you a few pointers.
if you haven't aleardy i would check out the facilities where your babies will be staying. you should be able to pack so things to bring along with her to make her stay a little more comforable for her. leave her with something like one of your nightgowns, tshirts, or blankets that would have your scent on it. also bring along any favorite toys and if she has her own bed or blanket take those along too. ask the kennel staff if it would be ok for you to call and check on her.
i have boarded my boy many times and he's very attached to me. he has always done very well.
hope this helps! good luck!

[fredsmybaby]

someones post appeared before i was able to finish my post lol.

[luckydog]

I'm just going to answer the question about the boarding. I'm not even going to ask why you are boarding a dam with her puppies, or why you resued her and she is having puppies. I'm just going to stay on one topic.

Actually, Lucky is spayed and has never had puppies. The pups I am talking about are English Toy Spaniels and we bought them from a breeder about 5 months ago. They are brother and sister and we are boarding them at our vet so that we can get them spayed and nueterd while we are gone on vacation. We figured it would be easier just to get that done while we are gone. Lucky is a mutt and these pups I am talking about are not hers.

[oc_spirit]

Personally I would not spay or neuter my pet while on vacation due to the various complications that could arise which would call for an immediate consultation between vet and owner, but that's just me.

As for boarding, you have been given awesome advice and I'd just like to add one more thing, if your dog is a very social dog that loves other dogs one thing that helps the departing part a lot (and I speak from experience as my boy is VERY attached to me and flips out when he sees me leaving and can't follow). What I do is I do not have a big long drawn out good bye where i tell him how much i'm gonna miss him etc etc Just a kiss on the head and a hug then I hand the leash off to a kennel hand and together we all walk to the back door leading to the kennel area. When the door open he can clearly hear all the dogs barking so he perks up and strains to go meet and play. The kennel hand takes him to his kennel and lets him go and he starts racing the dogs in kennel beside him and we turn around and leave without saying anything more. By the time he realizes we've left we're LONG gone and he quickly gets distracted by his new friends anyways.

[Novel]

Originally Posted by luckydog

Actually, Lucky is spayed and has never had puppies. The pups I am talking about are English Toy Spaniels and we bought them from a breeder about 5 months ago. They are brother and sister and we are boarding them at our vet so that we can get them spayed and nueterd while we are gone on vacation. We figured it would be easier just to get that done while we are gone. Lucky is a mutt and these pups I am talking about are not hers.

Wonderful! The way you stated in the OP I thought they were Lucky's pups. Believe me, people once brought me a 9 month old mix who they thought was probably going to have puppies that day, and wanted to know if I would board her. The dam was too thin and was severely stressed. I could have said "No" since there were obviously many reasons not to board her but, I actually did board her so that she would be in better care than the owners. She had 2 very small pups that night. One died overnight and the other passed away in the morning. That poor dog. The owners technically did not do anything wrong, as the law lies, but I see it as abuse.

[Novel]

Will they all be able to stay together while they're boarded? If they are home together, they should be boarded together, it will help reduce the stress to see someone they know.

[luckydog]

Yes, I wanted to board them together, but unfortunatly since we are getting the pups spayed and nueterd, the pups will be staying at the vets and Lucky will be at the Blue Line Kennels. I think that Lucky will be fine without them though. She doesn't really like their attention beacuse they are too playful for her.